Fans of Microsoft’s long running Halo series have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months with new games and a new series. On November 11, 2014 (Remembrance Day in Canada) Microsoft plans to release ‘The Master Chief Collection’. This re-release of the Halo games from Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 4 in one set will be an Xbox One exclusive item only, and will not be released for PC or Xbox 360. Also not included will be Halo: Wars, Halo: ODST or Halo Reach. The series will only focus on the Master Chief storyline.
In the re-release fans will see the biggest improvements to Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, as neither of those games were originally released in high definition. While Halo: Combat Evolved has had an anniversary re-release, this collection will be the anniversary re-release of Halo 2. Promising updated graphics and sound as well as expanded content Halo 2 will also see a redo of all the cut scenes. Halo 3 & 4 is said to only receive basic upgrades as both were previously released digitally.
Halo: Master Chief Collection
Included in the Mater Chief Collection will be the 4 games, expanded multiplayer maps, and access to the upcoming 5 part series Halo Nightfall and a chance to beta test halo 5: Guardians.
Halo: Nightfall will be a 5 part live action series that launches in November as well. It tells the story of agent Locke as he investigates terrorist activity on the human colony of Sedra, and is set between the timeframe of Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians.
Sangheili, (Elites) reappear as well as a fragment of the Installation 4 facility that was destroyed by the Master Chief in Halo: Combat Evolved. But this is not going to be a Humans vs Covenant battle for a region story. While Sangheili serve as the driving force behind the events, Agent Locke and his team will be dealing with a new biological threat and alien artifacts as the series evolves. However, fans will be happy to hear that 343 promises the series to be more involved than the ‘Forward Unto Dawn’ series.
343 Industry’s will be working in conjunction Scott Free Productions and puts producer Ridley Scott at the helm. While this is a stand-alone story it serves as a vehicle to introduce Agent Jameson Locke of the Office of Naval Intelligence to Halo fans as he will be an important part of the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians.
Halo: Nightfall Trailer
In Halo: The Master Chief Collection players will also have a chance to beta test the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians, which is slated to be released in 2015 on December 31. While credible details about the storyline in Halo 5 are still fairly slim, 343 promises that it will further the Master Chief storyline on top of expanding on the Agent Locke character. Initially the current Halo run was set as a trilogy, 343 industries has indicated that they may be looking at more games as they feel they can really expand on the story line.
Halo 5 Beta Teaser Trailer:
At this time there appears to be no new Halo novels, (since the January 2014 release of Halo: Mortal Dictata) or comic books (since the wrap up of the Sarah Palmer story in Dark Horses Halo: Initiation which finished in October 2014). Likewise fan favorite Red vs Blue, (by Rooster Teeth) has yet to announce a 13th season nor have there been any more announcements for other Halo spin off games. But fans are asking for more.
Rumors persist about a Halo Wars 2, with some fans claiming to have seen hints about another title and a live action movie. But at this point those remain as web rumors and little more. Having said that with a series of new Halo products confirmed and being released fans shouldn’t be too surprised to see more products and titles coming available over the next year.
John Goodale is the author of the book ‘Johnny Gora’ (available through Amazon), a contributing writer to TMRZoo.com and writes for his independent comic blog Indy Comics Spotlight, (which also appears here on TMRZoo as a monthly column)
